Jamaine Punzalan

The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Supreme Court ruled that homeowners’ associations (HOAs) cannot deprive its members of their right to use subdivision roads and other common facilities. </p><p>In a decision of the Third Division promulgated on April 7, 2026, the court denied the petition for certiorari filed by officials of La Costa Brava Homeowners Association, Inc., which sanctioned its members for failing to pay their monthly dues from 2016 to 2021.</p><p>The high court noted that the sanctions included the banning of grass-cutting or maintenance within five meters from the property; reducing the frequency of garbage collection; prohibiting food, package, appliance and gas deliveries; preventing taxis, tricycles and ride-hailing vehicles from entering the subdivision to fetch them; barring guests from entering the subdivision to visit them; and imposing delivery fees on trucks and vehicles bringing supplies and materials to their construction site.</p><p>The Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC), which was also affirmed by the Court of Appeals-Cebu City, that the sanctions violated Republic Act No. 9904 or the Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners’ Associations. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/8/19/supreme-court-land-developer-must-refund-buyer-if-promises-are-broken-1539">Supreme Court: Land developer must refund buyer if promises are broken </a></div><p>The high court emphasized that the law provides that a delinquent member still retains the &quot;full right&quot; to use common areas such as roads and the right of HOA officials to sanction members is not absolute.</p><p>“Clearly then, the ‘full right’ to use the roads necessarily includes the right to freely use the same for purposes of mobile transportation and delivery of basic goods,” the court said in the decision penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.</p><p>The SC also rejected the officers’ claim that their violation was not grave enough to warrant their permanent disqualification from holding office in the association.</p><p>“While a homeowners&#x27; association is well within its right to sanction its members&#x27; delinquency due to nonpayment of dues, the exercise of such right must fall within the framework crafted under Republic Act No. 9904,” the SC said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED STORIES:</strong></div><div><strong><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/1/jbc-invites-five-most-senior-sc-justices-to-apply-for-chief-justice-position-1213">JBC invites five most senior SC justices to apply for Chief Justice position </a></strong><br/><strong><a href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/news/nation/2026/9/1/sc-affidavit-of-desistance-cannot-be-used-as-basis-for-dismissal-of-trafficking-case-1503">SC: Affidavit of desistance cannot be used as basis for dismissal of trafficking case </a></strong><br/><strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/8/24/sc-banks-cannot-recover-withdrawn-funds-due-to-own-negligence-1652">SC: Banks cannot recover withdrawn funds due to own negligence </a></strong></div>

<p>The Supreme Court ruled that homeowners’ associations (HOAs) cannot deprive its members of their right to use subdivision roads and other common facilities.</p>

The Supreme Court ruled that homeowners’ associations (HOAs) cannot deprive its members of their right to use subdivision roads and other common facilities.

Supreme Court: Homeowners’ associations can't restrict members’ use of subdivision roads

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Supreme Court: Homeowners’ associations can't restrict members’ use of subdivision roads

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 02, 2026 11:28 AM PHT

Read More:

HOA

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subdivision roads

Supreme Court

homeowners’ associations

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